Tampon devices



Aug. 27, 1963 s, PENKsA 3,101,714

TAMPON DEVICES Filed July 3, 1962 FIG.|

IN VEN TOR. STANLEY PENKSA ATTORNEY 3,101,714 TAWON DEVICES Stanley Penksa, Worcester, N.Y. Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,324 2 Claims. (Cl. 128285) This invention relates to tampons which, as is well known, are commonly used in female hygiene during menstrual periods.

Usually the tampon consists of an elongated cylindrical body of absorbent material, which is positioned in the vagina with its lower end seated on or between the sphincter muscles and with a cord attached to the body passing outward to provide means for withdrawing the tampon. Although such tampons are satisfactory for the menstrual period following the first day or few days during which the flow is excessive, they are in general insuflicient to prevent leakage during the initial period.

An object of the present invention is the provision of certain new and useful improvements in tampons whereby leakage past the sphincter muscles is prevented during the initial period of excessive menstrual flow.

The above broad as well as as additional and more specific objects will be clarified in the following description wherein reference numerals refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intended primarily for purposes of illustration and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention necessarily to any or all of the exact details of construction or operation illustrated or described except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a side View of an improved tampon embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, substantially enlarged, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the use of the improved tampon.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral designates the usual elongated cylindrical body of absorbent material common to such devices, and the numeral 11 designates the rear or following end of the body to which a cord 12 is attached in any desired or suitable manner.

In the case of the instant improved tampon a body 13 which constitutes a plug, pad or the like of similar absorbent material, is slidably mounted on the cord 12. The body 13 is preferably of the same cylindrical form as the body 10 and also preferably of the same diameter. The cord 12 is itself constructed to have absorbent properties, and externally has the general appearance of well known smoking pipe cleaners, with an axial core of strands 14. It is apparent that, owing to the nature of construction of the cord 12, the individual bristles of the tufts 14 extend substantially radially outward from the core and, as shown in FIG. 3, provide an irregular external surface on the cord. As the body 13 slides on the cord, therefore, the bristles offer a frictional engagement with the body to a relatively high degree so that the body, after being slid to a given position on the cord tends to remain there rather than tending easily to slide along the cord.

The cord 12 consists of two helically wound strands 14, preferably of cotton, and radially extending tufts 15 locked at their bases between the strands 14. These strands with the tufts extending radially therefrom are secured together in any suitable manner as, for example, by a line of stitching 16. The tufts 15 are likewise made of an absorbent material such as cotton.

FIG. 4 shows the tampon body 10 positioned in the vagina in the usual manner, with the cord 12 extending atent O 3,101,714 C6 Patented Aug. 27, 1963 outward through the sphincter muscles 18, the vagina being indicated by the numeral 17. During the longer latter part of the menstrual period the slidable body would not be used, that is, it would be removed from the cord 12. However, during the initial period of heavy flow the slidable body 13 would, after insertion of the body 10 in the vagina, he slid upward on the cord substantially into the position shown in FIG. 4 where it would be securely held between the sphincter muscles 18. The body 13 is of course substantially shorter than the body 10. As shown in the drawing, the body 13 is less than one-half the length of the body 10. The difference in length be tween the two bodies provides a useful and beneficial result. As shown in FIG. 4, a space or recess is provided between the body 10 and the body 13, which serves as a reservoir to accumulate fluid which has leaked past the body 10 during the heavy initial flow. The shorter body or plug 13 is clamped between the sphincter muscles while the longer body 10 is positioned wholly within the vaginal cavity. If the body 13 were not substantially shorter than the body 10, for example, if the two were of the same length, the lower body or plug would have to protrude outward from the entrance to the vagina if it were to be positioned so as to provide a reservoir space between the two bodies.

Thus, the excess of flow which the body 10 is unable to absorb is not only stopped from leaking past the sphincter but is also in part at least absorbed by the slidaible body 13. Furthermore, as the cord 12 is itself absorbent, some menstrual fluid is absorbed by the cord between the bodies 10 and 13 as well as within the body 13, and in the event that there is some leakage past the body 13 the remaining portion of the cord will also take up some fluid.

It is thus apparent that an improved tampon has been provided for use during the initial period of heavy menstrual flow, which is effective in preventing leakage of fluid past the sphincter.

While the invention has been described'with particular reference to the construction shown in ithe drawing such is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention which is best defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A tampon device comprising a substantially cylindrical elongated body of absorbent material adapted to be inserted into the vaginal cavity of the user, a cord of absorbent material secured to one end of said body adapted to extend through the sphincter of the user, and a second substantially cylindrical body of absorbent material of substantially the same diameter as said elongated body having a substantially shorter length than said first-named body slldably mounted on said cord and adapted to be positioned wholly within the sphincter and spaced from the elongated body to provide a space for the accumulation of fluid leaked past the elongated body.

2. A tampon device according to claim 1, said cord comprising an axial core consisting of twisted strands and tufts of absorbent material secured between the strands and extending radially from the core, and means for holding the strands together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,023 Adkins May 10, 1927 2,092,346 Arone Sept. 7, 1937 2,629,381 Brown Feb. 24, 1953 3,037,506 Penksa June 5, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 949,237 France Aug. 24, 1949 

1. A TAMPON DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ELONGATED BODY OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE VAGINAL CAVITY OF THE USER, A CORD OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID BODY ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH THE SPHINCTER OF THE USER, AND A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER AS SAID ELONGATED BODY HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER LENGTH THAN SAID FIRST-NAMED BODY SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CORD AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED WHOLLY WITHIN THE SPHINCTER AND SPACED FROM THE ELONGATED BODY TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF FLUID LEAKED PAST THE ELONGATED BODY. 